If you say, "Oh, no! I never do this!" what in the heck are you doing here? Go away and don't come back until you spend several hundred dollars on crap you will never use. Then, the rest of us will happily be your friends. Because you will be one of us.
I found these hot pink gemstone flowers in my tin of pink bling a few days ago and thought, "Huh, why did I buy these?" Instead of putting them back, I decided to USE THEM ALL UP! AT ONE TIME!
Are you shocked? I sure was. I feel like such a radical. Here are the happy results.
This sentiment always appealed to me as a military spouse who lived in nine states in 17 years. Bloom where you're planted, indeed.
Yes, I know this is essentially the same card as the Bloom card, but hey, it's pretty, don't you think?
Awwww. Look at all that white space.
I blinged (or blang) seven times on one card. Is that legal? It's more fun if it isn't.
The stamps are both from Papertrey: Turning a New Leaf and Spiral Bouquet. The sentiments in Spiral Bouquet are large and complement Turning a New Leaf beautifully, don't you think? The ink is Brilliance Iridescent Lime, which is so shimmery, and Palette Noir, which is so, um, noir and makes a nice contrast to the perky colors of the leaves and gemstones.
So there. We CAN use our stash, use it all up, and feel good about it at the same time. I challenge you to go forth and use something that's been hanging out in your stash for a while. Use it all up. And then tell us about it. Because the rest of us are nosey nellies and we want to see you break the law of hoarding.
Trust me. It's fun.
Excellent idea for using bling! Love them all.
ReplyDeleteDo you write/send out a lot of cards or do you have a huge stash at home considering you make new ones every day? I know you give sets as gifts (that's what I do many times). Just wondering!
Petra
Petra, I send boxes of handmade cards to the troops for their use. As a former military spouse, I know how important it is for the men and women overseas to have a "normal" way to connect with family and friends at home. There aren't Hallmark stores on every corner in Baghdad or Kabul.
ReplyDeleteThey can't use cards with glitter and I don't send sympathy cards (just thinking of you), but otherwise, anything goes for them. Last year, I sent over 600 cards overseas. What a great way to turn my obsession into something that blesses the lives of people I don't even know!
I would rather call you an enabler - do you know how many things you have MADE me buy? One is on its way to me as I write this - PTI Trees. :0) I'm getting quite a few cards stashed away for the troops. 600 - wow! That's super duper great. Love all of these cards - you really ought to enter our EONAC this week - these cards would work. Winner is going to get a sampling of some of my favorite embellies.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan, I love your blog, and I really love what you did with your stash. This is a most difficult task for me to accomplish because I hoard everything, buttons, ribbon, paper, stamps, metal embelishments, plastic embellishments, flowers, etc... In fact every time I open a drawer I get a wonderful surprise! But!! I am trying to do more of what you just did. When I make one card, I fashion it into 6 or 12. (I'm about to go photo 6 of the same but different, in a few) Unfortunately, it still doesn't use it all up! And although I do make card sets for friends and family, I HOARD SOME OF THE CARDS!!! Oh darn it!- Is my time up already!?! :) Love your blog, your cards are all awesome! I'll be back! (keep that couch open for me!)
ReplyDeleteOh Susan, I had a good giggle while reading your post! It is all so familiar and true. Will have to take up your challenge, but where will I start? Bling, pearls, buttons, ribbon, flowers ....
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend and thanks for all the lovely ideas!
Wow, what a great way to use up your stash. These are gorgeous, Susan. And I do what oneofakind does, too --- when I make a great card, I make a buncha' them, so everyone I know KNOWS I can make a great card! You give me inspiration to branch out, making fewer but better cards. My family and friends love you for this! And so do I.
ReplyDeleteI love the lime-i-ness of the leaves! This is one set I have but haven't spent a lot of time with yet...guess I'll add it to my "use it!" stack today. By the end of the weekend, I hope to have blung my heart out. :)
ReplyDeleteG.U.I.L.T.Y.! Oh I dare not even total the amount of money I've spent on crafty stuff I'll never use *blush*
ReplyDeleteYou're such a rebel to use ALL in one go! But hey, rules were meant to be broken and it's certainly paid off here! I love the contrast of the colours!
x
I absolutely love these cards. You always inspire me.
ReplyDeleteThere should be a support group for us embellishment horders. Stand up and say "yes I collect and buy every embellishment made". I've beenfocused on using what I have in my very large stash. Instead of making just one card, I make the same cards until I've used up the paper or embellishment. I send off the extras to the troops or friends who still like to write letter. Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeleteI love each and every one of these lovely cards. They are simply gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was making a card for my Mom for Valentine's day, I needed *something* for the card. I went through my stash and found those little roses that one buys in a bunch for wedding favors. I've had them since way before I ever knew about Primas! I cut the stems off and glued them on...but I still have a bunch left :)
Susan these are all BEAUTIFUL!! My favorite colors on CAS cards...Pink, Green and LOTS of white! The bling is the perfect touch and that font is stunning! And Wow you sent over 600 cards what a wonderful wonderful thing to do...I know that was a huge blessing to many...Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteYou are such a rebel. You previously convinced me to use more than 1 or 2 gemstones on a card and now you want me to use things from my "favorite collection". I refer to it that way to justify never having used it. I do have some little flower gems too. Several different colors of them, should I send them to you? The cards are great. I promise to pick something from my collection and use it this weekend.
ReplyDeleteSo funny! I was going to justify using 7 pieces of bling on one card until I read that it would be more fun if not legal! So, I will leave it alone! Now, I have to decide which one of my head scratching purchases to use up completely!
ReplyDeleteSusan, I DO have those things...and just can't throw them out, because, well...I just can't. ;-) So, someday I may be as brilliantly talented as you (I wish), and find the perfect use for them, much like you did with these cards - LOVE these!!! tfs
ReplyDeleteBTW...I would've seen a pkg. of those embellies and thought the same thing...you made them perfect these cards!!
Beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteYep! Been there, done that! These are just darling. I so love your OLC cards!! The pop of the pink flower rhinestones is PERFECTION!
ReplyDeleteAfraid I'm guilty too! I hoard them and wait for a 'special' card to use them on but somehow it never arrives - why is that?
ReplyDeleteThis week I 'found' exactly the same bling you've used (well technically my 2 year old son found them when he started rumaging through my craft stuff. Note to self: must make sure dh closes the door!)
Blang away if you want to, baby! The results are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteLove them all! Stunning!
ReplyDeletewhy did I buy this has been going though my mind latly as I have a spring clean. Some I dont know why I even thought of buying, so off to mum I go and see if she wants them. If not off to sell them.
ReplyDeleteYes we could start a club "why did I buy this.
take care
megan
Bwhahahaha!!! Susan, I have so much crap I bought and have never used, I could open my own shop and be in business for years. LOVE what you did with the gems here!
ReplyDeleteI have to see what you make every day! Love today's cards. And yes, I do have things I have hoarded, and not used. Guess it's time to use what I have, and make some pretty cards with it. :)
ReplyDeleteWell not only do I belong to the "one of us" club but I have had those same pink bling stashed away forever!!!
ReplyDeleteLove the way you have used them.
Oh you are so spot on with your tale today! I hoard stuff all the time and then end up giving to the kids craft box a year later when I pull it out and realize I hate it now! I'm going to make something right now using stuff I've hoarded!! Thanks for the challenge! Hugs,
ReplyDeleteCaryn x
Good idea. I need to use my stash instead of adding to it. Great cards. The bling works!
ReplyDeleteThey're all so gorgeous, Susan...and way to use up your forgotten bling! I am inspired!
ReplyDeleteYou made me SNORT out loud, and I ain't a snorting type of gal!
ReplyDeleteWell done on using up some of your 'neglected' stash - if I knew where to start with mine, I would join you! Perhaps it's time for a clearout (or at least a stock take)
My lingering thought is that if I use it up, it leaves room to buy more stuff! But I still hoard anyway. Oops, ha ha. Lovely, lovely cards!
ReplyDeleteThese are amazing.
ReplyDeletePlease don't make anything else with that new leaf PTI set for a while. I keep wanting to buy it because of you and I have no spending money right now. I'll have money again in April, please don't use it anymore until then. ;)
*kidding*
You want me to *use* it? REALLY?!
ReplyDeleteOh, no, I couldn't possibly do that. ;)
Sadly, I hoard cards almost as much as I hoard the goodies with which to make them. But I'm trying to get better... really!
Susan you are such a hoot!!! Thanks for such a great start to my day.
ReplyDeleteYes I hold my hand up .... guilty as charged. Wouldn't even dare to add up the pounds I've wasted on 'must have' stuff that on a second look I wished I had left on the shelf. Then I have masses of things that I like so much I can't bear to use ... how sad is that?
But if I could makes cards like these from hoarded 'crap' then I would be in seventh heaven.
They are just too gorgeous for words. CAS at its best ..... lots of white space, minimal colours and stunning!
You are an inspiration and I am going to be brave and use up some of that hoard soon.
Great thing you do sending cards to the troops what a talented, generous lady you are.
TFS
Thank God for you Susan. Only this past week I have been ruthless with my paper hoard and said to myself I must use this before I buy anymore - HAH HAH. Your cards are truly beautiful, I may have to borrow the idea
ReplyDeleteROFL!!!
ReplyDeleteare you talking about you or ME in this post? :) do the flowers come in other colors??? I think I have them in a drawer, too! I think they were a "it's marked down on clearance so far at Joannes that I have to buy it" kind of purchase! and yep, they're still sitting there. Use away, and continue the inspiration!
ReplyDelete"Susan SAID to do it!" has taken me so far out of myself, I'm looking back and wondering who that fool was who wouldn't THINK of having any fewer than three WoWs on every card. This is sooooooo much fun here, EVERY day!
ReplyDeleteAnd today's cards.....the ULTIMATE! I just love them and have to hurry up and get out of here and go use up ALL my bling.
Thanks, Susan, you're the BEST therapist I ever had!
Thank you, Dr. Susan, for showing me the way ;) It's Blingtime!
ReplyDeleteI often shop at home and discover schtuff I had forgotten about (in eastern Cdn, we say 'aboat'-hee) and having those darned dollar stores nearby isn't helping. They sell soo much bling - and cheaply!
This week I'll make 'Blingers' to send to our Cdn troops, just as I did last year. I doubt I can make 600 happy, but I'm on my way with a couple hundred :)
Genius. Sheer GENIUS! ... Once every day in my Inbox. Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteAll the stuff I have horded is garbage, well....maybe not. I should go look at it with fresh eyes.
ReplyDeleteThese are all fabulous little blings and they result in fabulous cards.
GUILTY! I'm one of you!!! haha
ReplyDeleteyes, gotta use up those unused items! what a great inspiration. your cards are gorgeous!!!!!!!!
Maria
My SCS name probably should have been hoardingqueen, so I empathize with the "huh?" sensation. Maybe a weekly "Use it up" Challenge for hoarders would be cathartic? Love the fruits of your labor, though.
ReplyDeleteI love all of these! And I did not go away because I have a freakin' ROOM full of stuff I've bought and never used. I go in spurts, though, and eventually try to use it. I applaud your success!
ReplyDeleteOh, and I have some of those bling thingies, in every color, too, and more than one of each. Nuf said.
these came out gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteOh, these are beautiful cards. I LOVE the sentiments with the image. I couldn't figure out though if the sentiment stamps came from two different PTI sets or not. Did they? One thing I absolutely love about PTI is how they mix a large, sometimes script font with a smaller one.
ReplyDeleteKristen,
ReplyDeleteThe sentiments are entirely from Spiral Bouquet. I agree...PTI's sentiments are beautiful!
Susan
Why did you wait so long to use these? They look fab with those vines. Wait... you know I think I have some of those same flower gems myself in some drawer! I may have to emulate you.
ReplyDeleteI do have LOTS of stuff that I bought that I was sure I would use or was one of those "it's in the clearance bin so how can I pass up a package of what-nots if they are only 50¢" items. And now that I'm doing my craft room clean up and come across them, I realize I probably won't use them so I've decided not to save them any longer. They go in a box that I will donate to the elementary school along with a bunch of odd stamps, weird colored markers and a ton of really ugly patterned paper.
this makes me want to go out and buy hot pink rhinestone flowers!! :) SUCH CUTE CARDS!!
ReplyDeleteI have some buttons taking up space in my drawer... and Christmas brads that I will try to use this fall!!